Safety razor



June 1955 A. M. FITZPATRICK, JR

SAFETY RAZORS Filed May '22. 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F l -I I'll 'FIG.2

INVENTOR. ARTHUR M I ITZPATRICK JR FIO.3

WAL aw mzam ATTORNEY June 1955 A. M. FITZPATRICK, JR 2,710,445

SAFETY RAZORS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1951 lllllll Illllll FIG.5

FIG.6

@ l I IIIHIIII INVENTOR. ARTHUR M. F|TZPATR|CK,JR.

ATTORNEY SAFETY RAZOR Arthur M. Fitzpatrick, Jr., Stamford, Conn.

Application May 22, 1951, Serial No. 227,673

15 Claims. (CI. 30-40) This invention relates to razors and more particularly to razors employing a ribbon-type razor blade which is honed or sharpened on both sides to form a continuous, flexible double-edged blade.

It is an object of this invention to utilize a tracking means in both the shaving head and handle of a razor as a guide for a rotating, ribbon-type blade, and at the same time serving to keep the shapened edges of the blade out of contact with any part of the razor casing.

It is a further object to provide a razor casing and a ribbon-type razor blade therein which forms an inexpensive single unit that may be disposed of or thrown away after use.

It is an object to provide a razor that eliminates the danger of handling blades and disposing of the same, and a razor which is ready for initial operation without the necessity of threading the free end of the ribbon-type blade into place.

Another object is to provide manual means operatively connected to said ribbon-type razor blade for rotating said blade so that a new and unused section of said blade may be brought successively into operating position for shaving when it becomes necessary to change blades.

It is a further object to employ a continuous, ribbontype blade made of stainless steel or any other rust-resistant material, or razor steel treated with a rust inhibitor.

Still another object is the provision of an inexpensive, efiicient and rapidly operated razor which changes blades merely by the manual manipulation of a finger piece or knob.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a razor embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section along the lines 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of a modified form of the razor embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary section taken along the lines 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of another modification in the shaving head portion of the razor embodying the invention;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the ribbon-type blade employed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation view thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the elongated razor casing is represented generally by the numeral 10. As here shown, the casing consists of two complementary parts 12 and 14 formed preferably by a molding operation, said parts are adapted to interfit and are secured together in casing-defining relation in any suitable way, for example, by rivets 16. It is to be understood, however, that it is within the scope of this invention to make the casing of a single, integral piece of plastic, metal or other suitable material. Razor casing 10 has a shaving head portion 18, a handle portion 20, and a curved side States Patent wall 22. Each part 12 and 14 of the casing 10 has a toothed guard or comb 24 which extends laterally near the top of the shaving head portion 18, at the forward edge thereof, additional upwardly projecting guards 26 are integrally formed with the casing at opposite ends of combs 24. A bridge element 28 extends between guards 26 in substantially parallel-spaced, but slightly offset relation to the combs 24. An elongated, slit-like opening 30 communicating with the interior of the casing 10 is disposed between the bridge element 28 and the combs 24. It is apparent that the opening 30 appears in both casing parts 12 and 14.

The elongated opening or channel 32 which here shown preferably extends substantially around the interior of the casing and adjacent to the curved side wall 22 thereof, assumes the general contour of the casing 10. As seen in Fig. 4, in the bottom of opening 32, a groove 34 preferably extends co-axially with said elongated opening 32 entirely around and within said casing to form an endless tracking means. A slot 36 in side wall 22 communicating with opening 32 and extending co-axially therewith commences adjacent to the guards 26 at one end of the combs 24 and follows the general contour of the casing up to the guards 26 on the opposite end of combs 24. It will be noted from Fig. 3 that the bridge element 28 does not have a slot cut through its external surface, but has an internal groove 38 positioned in aligned, opposed relation to groove 34.

As seen in Figs. 8 and 9, the razor blade 40 for use in razor casing 10 is preferably a relatively narrow, flexible, stainless steel, double-edged ribbon-type strip blade having spaced projections along its length, for example rivets 42. As clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the razor blade 40 is housed within the elongated opening 32 that extends around the interior of the casing 10. As seen in Fig. 3, a section or length of the strip blade 40 projects through the slit-like opening 30 in the shaving head portion of both parts 12 and 14 of the casing 10 in position for shaving. A finger piece or knob 46 for moving the blade 40 is secured to said blade in any suitable manner, for example by a rivet 44.

Means for locking finger piece 46 at spaced intervals along the slot 36 comprises a plurality of proturberances or projections 48 at predetermined intervals in the side Wall 22 of part 12 of casing 10, and a plurality of recesses 50 in the side wall 22 of part 14 of casing 10 positioned so as to be in space confronting alignment with said projec tions 48 when casing 10 is in assembled condition (Fig. 1).

The razor operates in the following manner: Initially the finger piece 46 is inserted in one of the recesses 50 by the cam action of one of the projections 48. For instance,

in'Fig. 1, if the finger piece is inserted in the recess 50 nearest to the shaving head on the left hand side of the casing 10, a double-edged blade section or length appearing in slit-like opening 30 in the shaving head 18 is in position for shaving. When it becomes necessary to change blades the finger piece is forced out of said recess and slid a predetermined distance in the direction of handle 20 until the finger piece snaps into the next recess 50. A new blade length now appears in the opening 30 of the shaving head 18. This procedure for changing razor blade lengths may be repeated until the finger piece is moved in slot 36 to the recess 5!) nearest to the shaving head on the right hand side of the casing. Each movement of the finger piece from one locking means to the next causes a new blade length to appear in shaving position. Thus as the strip blade 40 is rotated in the elongated opening 32, the rivets 42 ride in grooves 34 and 38 and guide the successive blade lengths into and past shaving position. The co-action of the rivets 42 with the grooves 34 and 38 also prevents movement of the blade strip in a direction transverse to the path of travel of said blade strip. Accordingly, it is apparent that the sharpened edges are kept out of contact with the razor casing.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a modification of the means for moving the ribbon-type, strip blade 46). This means includes a small knob 52 adapted to oscillate in slot 54. A depending, pivoting finger 56 is mounted on knob 52. Razor blade 4 is preferably provided with perforations which take the form of aligned, spaced, hollow rivets 58 along its length.

Knob 52 may be moved from its position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in solid lines. When the knob is slid in that direction, the finger 56 automatically pivots a slight amount in the hollow rivet 58, and then engages strip blade 40 to move it a. predetermined distance limited by the length of slot 54. Knob 52 may retrace its path of travel and move from its position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines. When knob 52 is slid in that direction, the finger 56 automatically pivots out of hollow rivet 58 permitting said finger to return to its original position without causing strip blade 46 to move backwards. Thus, after one oscillation of the knob 52, the blade 40 has moved one razor blade section or length. This procedure may be repeated to move successive blade lengths into shaving position. As seen in Fig. 5, consecutive numerical indicia corresponding to the successive blade lengths may be printed directly on the blade 48 and may be observed through aperture 60 in the razor casing 16 to indicate to the razor user, at a glance, what blade length is currently in shaving position.

Fig. 7 shows another modified means for moving the ribbon-type strip blade. This means takes the form of a cog or gear 62 within casing 16. The teeth 64 of gear 62 are so arranged that, upon rotation of the gear, pairs of teeth successively mesh with hollow rivets 58 of the strip blade 40, engage the blade, move said blade, and then disengage from said blade. The pair of teeth 64 of gear 62 which at any given time are in mesh with hollow rivets 58 project in the openings 66 on opposite sides of casing 10. The gear may be rotated by moving the projecting teeth manually in the direction of the arrows until said teeth return within the casing and another pair of teeth project in the openings 66. When this is accomplished the strip blade has moved one blade length. This procedure may be repeated to move successive blade lengths into shaving position.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that certain changes in the details of construction and in the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principle of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A razor comprising a casing being provided with at least two elongated openings therein, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a finger piece in one of said openings operatively connected to said blade, and continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding said razor blade continuously through the other of said openings when said finger piece is manipulated.

2. A razor comprising a casing being provided with at least two elongated openings therein, a continuous, ribbontype razor blade in said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a finger piece in one of said openings having part thereof secured to said blade, continuous and endless tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding said razor blade continuously through the other of said openings when said finger piece is manipulated.

3. A razor comprising a casing having a shaving head portion and a handle portion, said casing being provided with two elongated openings, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in both the handle and shaving head portions of said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a finger piece in one of said openings operatively connected to said blade, and continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding said razor blade continuously through the other of said openings when said finger piece is manipulated.

4. in a safety razor the combination comprising a casing having a shaving head portion and a handle portion, said casing being provided with two elongated openings, at least one of said elongated openings being in the shaving head portion of said casing, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in both the handle and shaving head portions of said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, knob means in the other of said elongated openings having a part thereof secured to said razor blade, continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding said razor blade continuously through the elongated opening in the shaving head portion of said casing when said knob means is manipulated.

5. In a safety razor the combination comprising a casing having a shaving head portion and a handle portion, said casing being provided with two elongated openings, at least one of said elongated openings being in the shaving head portion of said casing, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in both the handle and shaving head portions of said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, knob means in the other of said elongated openings having a part thereof secured to said razor blade, continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding said razor blade continuously through the elongated opening in the shaving head portion of said casing when said knob means is manipulated, a plurality of spaced locking means in the other elongated opening, whereby, when said knob means is moved from one locking means to another locking means, a new blade length appears in the elongated opening in the shaving head portion of said casing.

6. A razor comprising a casing having a shaving read portion and a handle portion, said casing being provided with two openings, at least one of said openings being in the shaving head portion of said casing, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in both the handle and shaving head portions of said casing, the other of said openings being an elongated slot extending in a substantial portion of the side wall of said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a finger piece in said elongated slot having a part thereof secured to said razor blade, continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding the razor blade continuously through said opening in the shaving head portion of said casing when said finger piece is slid in said elongated slot.

7. A razor comprising a casing having a shaving head portion and a handle portion, said casing being provided with two openings, at least one of said openings being in the shaving head portion of said casing, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in both the handle and shaving head portions of said casing, the. other of said openings being an elongated slot extending in a substantial portion of the side wall of said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a finger piece in said elongated slot having a part thereof secured to said razor blade, continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding the razor blade continuously through said opening in the shaving head portion of said casing when said finger piece is slid in said elongated slot, a plurality of spaced locking means in said elongated slot, each locking means comprising a recess in one wall of said slot, a protuberance in the opposite wall thereof in space confronting relationship to said recess whereby when said finger piece is moved from the recess of one locking means to the recess of another locking means a new blade length appears in the opening in the shaving head portion of said casing.

8. A razor comprising a casing having a shaving head portion and a handle portion, said casing being provided with two elongated openings, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in the handle and shaving head portions of said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a finger piece in one of said openings operatively connected to said blade, at least one continuous groove in said casing, spaced projections on said ribbon-type razor blade that are adapted to ride in said groove when said blade is motivated thereby guiding said blade through the other of said openings and preventing the edge of said blade from contacting said casing.

9. A razor comprising a casing being provided with at least two openings therein, a continuous, ribbontype razor blade in said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding said razor blade through one of said openings, knob means adapted for reciprocable and pivotal movement in the other of said openings, a pivoting part on said knob means which when pivoted in one direction is out of operative engagement with said razor blade, and when pivoted in another direction operatively engages said razor blade for motivating said blade a predetermined distance in said one of said openings.

10. A razor comprising a casing being provided with at least two openings therein, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in said casing, said razor blade being provided with spaced perforations, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding said razor blade through one of said openings, knob means adapted for reciprocable and pivotal movement in the other of said openings, a pivoting finger on said knob means adapted to engage one of said perforations when said knob is in a predetermined position, and when said knob means is moved in one direction to motivate said blade a predetermined distance in said one of said openings.

11. A razor comprising a casing being provided with at least two elongated openings therein, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a gear mounted in said casing and adapted for engagement with and rotation of said razor blade, the teeth of said gear being adapted to project through one of said openings successively, continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding said razor blade continuously through the other of said openings when at least one of said gear teeth is moved.

12. A razor comprising a casing being provided with at least two elongated openings therein, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being provided with perforations and adapted to be confined in said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a gear mounted in said casing, the teeth of said gear being adapted to mesh with the perforations of said razor blade and to rotate said razor blade, the teeth of said gear being adapted to project through one of said openings successively, continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for gulding said razor blade continuously through the other of said openings when at least one of said gear teeth is moved manually.

13. A razor comprising a casing having a shaving head portion and a handle portion, said casing being provided with two elongated openings, a continuous ribbon-type razor blade in the handle and shaving head portions of said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbontype razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a finger piece in one of said openings operatively connected to said blade, a continuous groove in said casing communicating with one of said openings and extending co-planar therewith, aligned, spaced projections on said ribbon-type razor blade that are adapted to ride in said grove when said blade is motivated thereby guiding said blade through the other of said openings and preventing the edge of said blade from contacting said casing.

14. A razor comprizing a casing being provided with at least two elongated openings therein, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in said casing, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a finger piece adapted for reciprocable and pivotal movement in one of said openings, continuous tracking means in said casing for keeping the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and for guiding said razor blade through the other of said openings, means on said finger piece which when said finger piece is moved in one direction operatively engages said razor blade to move said razor blade a predetermined distance through the other of said openings, and when said finger piece is moved in another direction said means on said finger piece is maintained out of operative engagement with said razor blade.

15. A razor comprising a casing being provided with at least two openings therein, a continuous, ribbon-type razor blade in said casing, said razor blade being provided with spaced hollow rivets, said razor casing and said continuous, ribbon-type razor blade being permanently combined and forming a single, disposable unit, a continuous groove in said casing, said hollow rivets co-acting with said groove to keep the edge of said razor blade from contacting any portion of said casing and to guide said razor blade through one of said openings, knob means adapted for reciprocable and pivotal movement in the other of said openings, a pivoting finger on said knob means adapted to engage one of said hollow rivets when said knob means is in' a predetermined position, and when said knob means is moved in one direction to motivate said blade a predetermined distance in said one of said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,231,215 Sterrick June 26, 1917 1,788,614 Blackmore Jan. 13, 1931 2,045,222 Ern June 23, 1936 2,572,005 Borden Oct. 23, 1951 

